Base and floor border polishing machine



E. GAVHQCMH BASE AND FLOOR BORDER `FOLISHNG MACHINE" 2 Sheets-Sheet lE.. @AVHQCHH BASE AND FLOOR BORDER POJISHINGMAGHINE Filed oct. w. 1921s2 sheets-shew 2 ,Patentea Febfz, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERCOLE ICAVICCHI, F QUINCY,IMASSACHIUSETTS.`

BASE ANI) FLOOR BORDER POLISHING MACHINE.

i Application led October 17, (1924. Serial No. 744,186.

-. 'To all whom it may (1o/mem:

Be it known that I, ERCOLE GAVICGHI, a

citizen of thej United States, and a resil-dent of. Quincy, county ofNorfolk, State in surfacing machines and the object there-- ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Base and Floor BorderPolishing Machines, of which the following description,l in -connectionwith the accompanying drawing,` is a specification, like charactersonthe drawing representing like parts.

This-[invention relates to improvements of isjto "provide a surfacingmachinev in which the surfacing tool `can beset at any required.'position.

More particularly thefinvention relates l tol surfacing machines forsurfacing the borders of oors or walls close to their line ofvjunction.where usual iioor surfacers cannot reach, and, also which mabe. operated to surface straight or beveled junctions between theWalland base, or curved junctionssuch as are vcommonly known y assanitary cove bases.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ioor surfacer adaptedto sur,

N face stair treads, steps, and other classes of work whichh'ave notheretofore beenl capable of being treatedby a power actuated surfacingmachine.A y

Another object of the invention is to proy vide, a surfacing tool havinga frame supportinga motor and" a tool so mounted upon wheels that theframe'iscapable of universal movement.

'A further object of the invention is tol provide a machine of this`character with means `for conveniently. applying pressure to therotatingtool either in the direction of its axis or when the-tool is inany operative position.

, A further ob'ect of theiinvention is to provide-'a surfacing machineofthe, class described in which the motor-supporting frame is mounted uponWheels which are adjustable relatively to the position of they tool insuch a manner. that morel or less of the weight of the frame andmotormay be imposed l'ipon'the tool. A

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of. the classdescribed with a wheel 'frame pivotally connectedtofthepintor-supporting frame in such a manner that the wheel axle maybe located.v

l3 3 Fig. 1 showing themeans b thereupon and provided with an extensionlenclosing a shaft driven by the motor and a tool-supporting headadjustably .mounted upon said extension in. such a manner that the toolmay be employed vto surface the iioor or may be rigidly positioned to` itreat surfaces extending at an angle to said floor. f j

Otherobjects and features of the inven- -t1on will more fullya pear fromthe following descriptionan the accompanying drawings and will' beparticularly pointed outy in the claims.

' In the drawings: Y

Fig. lis a side elevation, partially invertical longitudinal section, of`a surfacing machine embodying the present invention; l y f Fig. 2 is alsectional View on line 2-2 Fig. 1, illustrating in full lines thetoolsupporting head with the tool' restin upon the floor and themeansfor app ving force to the tool in the direction oits axis ofrotation and also illustrating in Adotted lines 'an adjusted position ofthe ltooly for surfacing Va vertical wall and the means .by which forcemay. be applied to the tool when in this posit1on;'l

Fig. 3 is a detailsectio'nal view -on line which the tool shaft isshdably mounts in the driving gear inthe tool'head;

Fig..v .4 is an enlarged detail; elevationy of a portion of the toolshaft showing the means 'for preventing the shaft from loe comingdetached from head.; and,

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are .respectively detail viewsof other preferred formsof tools adapted to be employed in the surfacing the -tool-supportingmachine for different kinds of work.

' The surfacing machine illustratedin the ac onlpanying drawingscomprises a support. .ing frame having a base l upon which a suitableelectri` motor-2 is mounted and a vertical standard 3 havin mountedthereupon a switch t for contro ling the matar also desirably havingmounted thereupon a bracket which supports a liquid-containing tank 6.The front end of the frame also comprises a gear box 7 having a lateraleX- tension u on which a tool-supporting headis reifera ly adjustablymounted.

s illustrated herein the lower portion 7 of the gear box is integralwith the base 1 of the platform and the upper portion of the gear boxcomprises a cover 8 which is bolted to the standard 3 of the frame. Thelateral extension of the frame as illustrated herein comprises acylindrical boss 9 in which is rigidly secured a tubular member 10 suchas a pipe the outer end of which has rigidly secured to it acylindricalsleeve 11 presenting a circular iange 12. Bushings 13 and 14within the end portions of said pipe 10 provide bearings for a shaft 15which is provided at one end with a gear 16 which is engaged by thepinion 17 of the motor shaft. The opposite end of the shaft 15 isprovided with a beveled or mitre gear 18 for actuating the surfacingtool as will hereinafter more fully appear. A toolfsuppo-rting head 19,preferably in Vthe form of a rectangular or box-like casting, isadjustably secured to the flange 12 of/'the sleeve 11.

In the present construction the tool-sup porting head has a laterallyextending rectangular boss 20 provided with a machined end and having acylindrical aperture therethrough. The iange 12 is provided with aperipheral annular recess the wall 21 of whichextends into and fitswithin the cylindrical aperture in the boss 20. The toolsupporting headis clamped upon the flange 12 by a rectangular collar 22 which engagesthe opposite sides of. the flange and through. the corners of whichcollar bolts 23 extend into the boss 20of the head. Y

By reason of this construction the head 19 can be rotatably adjustedabout the axis yof the shaft 15 to any desired' position and clamped insuch position 'by` setting up the bolts 23. The head f19, is providedwith another boss 24 which preferably extends at right angles totheboss2tl and is longitudinally bored to receivethe hub 25 of a mitregear 26 which meshes with the vgear 18 upon t-he shaft 15, a suitablebushingfbeinginterposed between the gear hub ,and the wall of the boss24. The sleevew27'desirably terminates at its lower end above the vlowerend of the gear and a split ring- 28 seated in a groove in the hub atthe end of the sleeve 4serves to prevent relative movement between thehub and the sleeve. A wear plate 29 desirably is interposed betweentheunder face of the gear and the shoulder upon the ioss 24. Atool-supporting` shaft 30 is slidably mounted in the hub 25 of thebeveled gear, but is connected to the gear by one or more feathers 31which desirably are formed integrally upon the shaft 30 and are slidablymounted in suitable slots milled into, the inner wall of the gear hub.

Means are `provided for preventing the tool shaft from being Withdrawnfrom the gear when in assembled position, the means illustratedcomprising a spring ring 32 which is seated in arecess in the tool shaft30 and which engages the upper face of the gear 26 upon downwardrelative longitudinal movement of the tool shaft. The lower end of thetool shaft'is connectedby a universal joint 33 tov a tool head 34 towhich the surfacing tool 35 is detachably connected in the usualmanner.V The tool-supporting head 19 is provided with av rectangular cap36 having an upwardly extending cylindrical .barrel 37 WhichV is inaxial'falinement with the boss 24 and is provided at its lower end witha bushing 38 to receive the upper end portion of the tool shaft. Theupper end of the barrel k37 is closed and contains a helical spring 39which at its upper end engages the under face of the head of the barreland at its lower end engages a. sleeve 40 which acts upon ananti-friction bearing, such as a ball bearing 41 which engages the upperend of the tool shaft 30.

The helical spring, cushions the vibration of the grinding tool so thatthe operator may, without inconvenience from such vibration, apply tothe tool the pressure required to produce the desired abrading orpolishing effect.

In order to facilitate the operationof the tool means'are provided forsupplying liquid from thetank 6 to the tool. As illustratedhereinjthenieans comprise a flexible pipe 42 wliiclr'isl, connected atits upper end to a. suitable`r faucet in'the tank and at its lower endto a head 4 3 upon a pipe 44 whichextends downwardly axially through thesleeve 40, the roller bearing 41, the tool shaft 30 and the universalconnection 3 3 and delivers the liquid through a suitable.*aperture 45iu the center of the tool 35.

One of the features of the invention consists in providing. means bywhich force may be conveniently manually applied to the tool in thedirection vof the axis of rotation of thetool in any' of its. adjustedpositions. The preferred ineansillusftrated in the accompanying drawingscomprisesl a bracket 46which is iixedly secured to' the upwardlyextending barrel 3'? of the tool headand ex- "tends laterallyltherefrom. rlhisbracket is ber, one army 48 oft whichA is longerthan'the,

other arm 4S), 1 )esirably either end of the'. L-shaped handle 48 ismade of suchsize as to lit the socket member 47, andadapfed to beclaniped therein by a bolt 50 which engages the respective-'sections ofthe split socket. I Whenthe4 tool is lto be used .for surfacing ino afloor the longer arm 48 ofthe member is clamped in the socket member 47thus enabling the pressure to be applied by the hand of the operatorsubstantially directly above the axis o the tool shaft or in anypositioii 'of adjustment of the handle about the axis of the'arm 48.When the tool is ad- `justed for surfacing a vertical wall or otherWalls located in angular relation to the floor.

One of the principal features of the invention 'is to provide aportablesurfacing machine in which the tool, although rotatably mounted in a`rigid support.upon the `frame, can be moved about universally so thatany surface may be treated irrespective of its position. This isaccomplished p' by pivotally mounting the supporting frame upon 'theaxle of the wheel s'o that the entire frame is' capable of tiltingmovementl which 1 will permit the4 tool to be raised and loweredvertically. while the Wheels which engage the floor can be moved in anydirection.

A furtherv object of the invention is to provide a wheelsupport for asurfacing machine of the character described in which.A

' the position of thel Wheels may be adjusted to impose more or less ofthe weight of the frame, motor and tool head upon the'tool.- This may beaccomplished by providing means for adjusting the axle of the wheelrelatively to the'supporting framein the direction of the extension 10by which the tool-'supporting head is carried.

Another feature of theinvention consists inproviding a wheel support inwhich the axle'of the Wheels is located substantially in the plane ofthe center of gravity of the .machine so that in transporting themachine from place to place the tool can be readilyl raised vfrom.theoor and the machine drawn 4from one place to another without having'the tool engagel the floor. These objects are accomplished by providingaY wheel frame which is pivotally mounted to the supporting frame insuch a manner that'thewheel axle can be located substantiall in theplane of the center lof gravityr o thel ma-jA chine, or swung rearwardlyfrom suchl plane into a position in which a large proportion of theweight of the machine willbe imposed upon 'the surfacing tool.l v. Asillus-"` trated.- the wheel-supporting frame comprises a `bracket 5l at"one. end of which: is

mounted the axle 52 offa wheel or wheels 53. The bracket 51 is pivotallymounted upon ashaft or upon pivots 54 in bosses projecting downwardly'from the under face of the base l. The brackets 5l are pro-` vided withsurfaces 56 and 57 disposed substantially at right angles to each otheradapted to engage the under face of thc platform 1. The ax'is of thepivot 54 is so arranged with respect lto the basejvof the' machine thatwhen the wheel '53 is in the` forward position illustratedy in lFigflthe axisof the axle 52 of the wheels 'willlbc approximately in thevertical plane of :the

fcenter of gravity, lout when ythe wheels 53 are moved'to the positionillustrated in dotted linesin Fig. 1 the axis5'2 of the wheels n willbe'positioned at such distance fromthc [center of gravity that -asubstantial portion of the weight ofthe machine will Vbe carried by thetool. p v' I Desirably a leg 58 is pivotally mounted in bosses59`p'1'ojectin'gdownwardlyV from the rearend of the'ybase to provide asupport for the machine when the same istilted upwardlywith-,the wheel53 in the forward position illustratedl in full lines 4in` Fig; l. v

Thus when themachine isnot in use it will be yfirmly supportedwith ythesurfacing tool out of engagementwith the door.,

In Figs. 5,6 and 7 differentl forms of maisv are illustrated which maybe substituted for the tool illustrated'in Fig. '1. In Figf a usmall-#annular tool is' illustrated invertical section Apresenting a,`flat working surface. In Flg. 6 asimilar'tool is illustrated inverllllltical section as providedv with a curved lower 4 fperipheral edg'ythistool beingparticularly adapted forlinishing concavedly curvedsurfaces-such assanitary cove bases.' In Fig.

a vdiierent form of tool is illustrated hav`- lng a pluralityy ofcylindrical abrading inem-- bers securedto a'ring which is adapted to bedetachably -securedto the tool head 34.`

` It will be obvious thatlby reason of. theA constructionhereinillustrated and described a surfacing ,machine fisV provided whichis adapted to treat ythe surfaces along the bord-f ersfjpf lioors orwalls vand whichcart'con-jl venfiently be adjusted' orthe treatment; f

surfaces disposed in angular relation'to *thel base or Walls. Themachine desirablvybut notjnecessarily, is of a small sizeadapted to workupon borders of lioors or walls and uponstairtreads, steps, and othervarieties .i126

of worlrflwhich heretofore havebeen incapable Tkof` beiniA surfaced by*il `PNV-er mutatedy machine. It Will however,V be'nbvious that themachine canv be made oflarg'e sizeand ,used for surfacingY floors andother Walls.

Within the scope'of the invention as defined by the claims. L

.It will be understood@ that the em'bodil"A i ment of theinvention'particularlyj disclosed@ herein 4is of anillustrativecharacter and is 'not'restrictive and that various changes in Jform,construction and arrangement ot parts may be made within the spirit and;scope of the Jfollowing claims.

Havingthus described tli'e`in\'ention,`\'vhat is claimed'as new, and.desired to befsecuie'd by Letters Patent, is:

l.- A poitablesurfacing machine comprising a frame having a lateralextension rigid- 1y connected thereto, va motor: 'mounted upon saidframe, a tool-supporting!l head-imount-1; ed on said extension androtarily adJustable about the longitudinal axis thereof, assur fac-ingtool having a' shaft rotatably vmounted in said head and means operable'by said .-niotor for rotating vsaid tool.

2. A portable surfacin A. inachinecomprising a frame having a lateralextension,l a

motor mounted upon said frame, a tool supporting head adjustably mountedon said extension, a surfacing toolhavingl a shaft rotatably mounted insaid'liead, means oper# able by said motor for rotating said tool,` atool-controlling handle detaohably connectedv to -said head and meansfor selectively positioning said handle to permit ,pressure to beapplied to said tool in the direction of' its axis of Yrotation atdifferent. 'distances parallelism tothepivotal axis of said frame landmeans for limiting the respective movefrom its axis of rotation. i y

4. 'A portable surfacing machine comprisn ing a frame having a rigidlateral extension, a motorinounted upon said frame, a tubulartool-supporting head mounted on said extension and rotarily adjustableabout the longitudinal axis thereof, a surfacing tool having a shaftrotatably mountedin said head, means operable b said motor for ro-*tating said tool, an L-s iaped handle having. arms or" differentlengths-and means forv derV tacliably connecting either otl said armstol said head in substantial parallelism tothe axis of said tool shaftwhereby saidihandle may befcoiivenientlypositioned to apply pressuretosaid tool in the' direction ofits axis A.oi'frotation when thetool-supporting head is in different ositions' of adjustment.

5. A portablesur acing machine comprising a framehaving a rigid lateralextension,

a motor mounted upon said 4frame, a tubular' tool-supporting head:`mounted on vsaid extension and rotarily, adjustableabout thelongitudinal axis of'said extension, al surfacing tool having a Shaftrotatably mounted in said head, means operable by said motor forrotating said tool, a Wheel frame pivotally mounted' on said supportingframe to swing j; about 'an axis extending at right angles to thedirection in `which said extension projects t'rom said-frame, Wheelsmounted upon said wheel 4frame and means for limiting the swingingmovement of 'said brackets to change the position of the center ofgravity :ofthe machine relatively to the tool.

6. A portable surfacing machine compris- 'inopfa vframe having a lateralextension, a

otor mounted upon 'said frame, a tool-supporting head mounted on saidextension, a surfacing-tool having a shaft rotatably mounted in saidhead, nieans operable by said motor for rotating said tool, a Wheeltraine pivotally connected to said supporting frame to swing about anaxis so located that when in one position the Wheel axle'will l-ie inapproximately the vertical plane otl the center of gravity of the.machine at right angles to the-direction of siiid'extension and -a pair.of Wheels mounted Vii'pon said Wheel axle to rotateabout an axisparallel to the axis of its pivotal vconnection to saidmotorsi'ippoiting frame and means for limiting the respective movementsof said Wheel .traine about its axis iii either direction.

7. A .grinding machine comprising a iraine,fa motor mounted upon saidframe, a grinding tool having a vertical shaft and means operable bysaid motor for rotating Said grinding tool` a wheel frame pivotallyconnected to said niotor-supporting frame yto swing about an axis solocated that when lin-oneposition the wheel axle `will lie inapproximately the vertical plane of the center of gravity of themachine, Wheels mounted on said Wheel axle lto rotate about an axis insaid bearings, means for actuating said shaft fro said "motor, atool-supporting head, means-for adjustably clamping said head uponzsaidflanged end to permit rotary ad@ justme'nt about the axis of said shaft,a surfacing tool havinga shaft rotatably mountlio edin said headandmeans for rotating said tool shaft from the shaft mountedv infsaidextension. 5:57, A

9. A portable suriacing machine compris ing a'supporting fra-mea motormounted, upon said frame,l a lateral extension trom said framerigidlyconnected thereto and having bearings therein and rovided with a flan edend, a shaft rotatab y mounted in saidv -cari-rigs, -means for actuatingsaid -ed upon said frame, a lateral extension from said frame rigidlyconnected thereto( and having bearingsl therein and 'provided with aflanged end, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings, means foractuating said shaft from said motor, a tool-supporting head, means foradjustably clamping said head upon said flanged end to permit adjust#ment thereof about theaxis of the shaft in said extension, complementarybeveled gears mounted respectively upon said shaft andin said head, atool shaft slidably connected to the gear in said tool-supporting headand rotatablethereby, a surfacing tool universally connected to the endof said tool shaft and resilient means acting upon the oppof' site endof said tool shaft'.

11. A portable surfacing 4machine comprising a supporting frame, amotormounted upon said frame, a lateral extension from said frame rigidlyconnected thereto and having bearings therein and provided with aflanged end, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings, means foractuating said shaft from said motor, a hollow tool-supporting head,means for adjustablyclamping said head upon said flanged end'to permitadjustment thereof about the axis of the shaft in said extens1on,complementary beveled gears mounted respectively .upon said shaft and'insaid head, a tool shaft slidably connected tothe gear in Asaidtool-supporting head and rotatable thereby, a surfacing tool universallyconnected tov the end of said tool shaft, resilient means acting uponthe opposite lend of said tool shaft and means connected to said shaftywithin said head for preventing the tool shaft from becoming detachedfrom said head.

l2. A portable surfacing machine comprising a supporting frame, a motormounted upon said frame, a lateral extension from said frame rigidlyconnected thereto and having bearings therein and provided with aflanged end, a shaft rotatably mounted in saidbearings, means foractuating vsaid shaft from said motor, a tool-supporting head, means foradjustably clamping said head upon said flanged end to permit adjustmentthereof about the axis of the shaft in said extension, complementarybeveled gears mounted respectively upon said shaft and in said head, atool shaft slidably connected to the gear in said tool-supporting headand rotatable thereby, a surfacing'tool universally connected to the endof said tool shaft, a liquid-containing tank mounted 1,upon saidmotor-supporting frame and means for conducting liquid therefrom.

through said tool shaft and tool. In testimony whereof, I have name tothis specification.

ERCOLE oaviooHI.

signed my,

